TOMBSTONE TOURIST

My mini-adventure continues and after leaving Level Cross I eventually ended up in Sanford, North Carolina. In Sanford I continued with the NASCAR Theme and stopped at the Buffalo Presbyterian Church Cemetery. He is paid my respects to two NASCAR Driver, Herb Thomas and J. D. McDuffie. 

Herb Thomas was one of the early Pioneers of Racing. He began his career in 1949 and
competed in the first Daytona 500 - Finishing 12th. He retired to Sanford North Carolina where he was friends with J. D. McDuffie. Herb was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013.

I remember J. D. McDuffie as one of the most determined drivers in NASCAR. Never fully sponsored he operated his race team on a shoestring budget. His #70 was sponsored by hometown businesses like Rumple Furniture Company. He died in a racing crash at the Watkins Glen Raceway in 1991.

But before arriving in Sanford, I made a stop in Siler City, North Carolina. Yes, all you Andy Griffith Fans, there really is a Siler City. On the Andy Griffith TV Show Siler City and Mayberry were only a few miles apart but, in reality, 80-miles separates Siler City and Mount Airy.

We all know that North Carolina was the setting for Mayberry and several of the Shows stars made the state there home after the show ended. Andy Griffith, the shows main star and namesake was born in Mount Airy and in later years made his home in Manteo on the Outer Banks.

Betty Lynn who played Barney’s girlfriend Thelma Lou, retired to Mount Airy and still lives there. She very much embraces the character of Thelma Lou and on occasion still makes an appearance during the towns popular Mayberry Days Festival and at the Andy Griffith Museum.

France Bavier's Siler City Home

And finally, the lady that brought me to Siler City, Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee made Siler City her home for the last 17-years of her life.

By all accounts Frances was a very complex person who was quiet the accomplished actress and a very prim and proper lady. She was born in New York City, where as a young woman appeared in Vaudeville before moving to the Broadway Stage. She enjoyed a successful stint on Broadway starring in “On Borrowed Time,” and later with Henry Fonda in “Point of No Return.”

When Motion Pictures became popular Frances left the comfort of New York and moved to California. There she made the transition from the stage to the silver screen. Then in the 1950’s something called television came along and Frances once again had to make an adjustment from the big screen to the small screen.

For a period of time, she seemed to have difficulty making that adjustment, being cast only in small part on shows like The Lone Ranger, and Perry Mason. Her big break came when she had a small part in “Make Room for Daddy,” which featured Ron Howard and Andy Griffith. That episode of Make Room for Daddy was actually the pilot for what would become the Andy Griffith Show.

When casting began for the Andy Griffith Show, Frances was cast for the Role of Aunt Bee, and would stay with the show for its entire 8-year run. She was the only original cast member that stayed with the spin-off Mayberry R.F.D.

We have all heard the stories about how Frances and Andy often clashed and were not particularly close during and after the show. A few years back I had the opportunity to attend “Mayberry Days” in Mount Airy. During my visit I got to talk briefly with a couple of the people who appeared on the show a few times over the years.

From talking to them, Andy wasn’t the only on person Frances Clashed with. She often clashed with George Lindsey who played Goober. Now I said earlier she was very prim and proper and didn’t go for a lot of frivolity on the set. She wanted to do the scene and move on. George on the other hand was a prankster and would often ad-lib his lines. His constant pranks and not following his line would so infuriate Frances that she would storm off the set.

But, while she didn’t entirely embrace the role of Aunt Bee, she stayed with the show and appeared in more episodes than any other character. As a result, Frances Bavier would be forever identified as “Aunt Bee.” She once said that after the show ended, that she was so type-cast that it was impossible for her to find work.

She became so frustrated with the lack of roles, she finally retired from acting in 1972. Then ironically, she bought a house and moved to of all places, Siler City, North Carolina.

During the 17-years that she lived in this small town, she essentially became a recluse. Only occasionally venturing out of her home to visit her doctor or go to the grocery store. She spent most of her time inside her house with her cats which sometime numbered as many as 20.

She stayed busy personally answered all her fan mail, often writing long and inspirations letters to those who took the time to write to her. She also devoted a large part of her day to promoting several charities including the Easter Seals.

The refined lady that we all came to know and love as “Aunt Bee,” lived the last 17-years as a recluse and died alone on December 6, 1989. But “Aunt Bee” had one more surprise. In her will she left $100,000 in a trust fund to ensure that members of the Siler City Police Department would receive a Christmas Bonus. Thanks to her generosity every year since 1990, every member of the Siler City Police Department has received an “Aunt Bee Christmas Bonus.

Not many people who live in Siler City today remember Frances, but a few who do have been quoted in newspapers that in addition to being a recluse she wasn't a very good neighbor and was quiet cantankerous and contrary. But to me she will always be "Aunt Bee."

I ended the first day of this little adventure in Smithfield, North Carolina. Before Checking into my hotel for the evening I stopped at the Sunset Burial Park and Paid my respects to one of Hollywood's most iconic leading ladies, Ava Gardner.

Ava was born in Smithfield, North Carolina and became one of Hollywood's most popular Leading Ladies. She was married three times to Mickey Rooney, Bandleader Artie Shaw and finally to ole Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra.

When she retired from acting she move to London where she lived quietly for over 20-years . But when the small town girl who became a Hollywood Icon passed away she came home to Smithfield to be buried in the family plot near her parent and brother.

After checking into my hotel I got a carryout order from a nearby Chipotle and called it a day. It was a long day and found out that I need to get my traveling stamina back. While I am tired, the adventure will continue. 

Stay tuned. 

TRIAL RUN

 Well, The weather was really nice this past weekend and on the spur of the moment, I decided hit the road and take a little road trip. Here in the New River Valley of Virginia it was  forecast to be sunny with temps in the low to mid-70's. So last Friday (March 12) I packed up and left home about 9.a.m., and headed south. 

I was running a little low on material for my YouTube Channel, so this little trip will allow me to shoot some new material. When I left I had a couple of Ideas but by and large I just played it by ear. 

Another thing that I wanted to accomplish on this trip is to see how many places were open and just how much traveling has changed over the last year due to COVID. This little mini-adventure also served as a trial run, for some longer trips this summer. 

My first stop was at the Petty Racing Museum in Level Cross, North Carolina.  The museum occupies a couple of building in what was one the shops where the cars for Lee and Richard Petty were build back in the early days of NASCAR. It was also the home to Petty Enterprises before it moved to the Charlotte Area. 

The Museum has some of the cars that were driven by the four generation of the Petty Family, Starting with the family patriarch Lee Petty, along with Richard, Kyle and Lee's great grandson Adam. 

For over 40-years I was a huge NASCAR Fan, attending my first race with my Dad and his friend Tommy Cline in 1964 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Daddy and Tommy slept on a mattress in the back of a Ford Country Squire Station Wagon out side of turn 4.  I slept in the back seat and it was the thrill of a life time. The 1964 World 600 was the race that claimed the life of my favorite driver "Fireball" Roberts.  

The 1964 World 600 was my first race and for the 40-years I never missed a race at Charlotte. Traveling as a young lad with daddy and Tommy Cline and then with Daddy and Mr. Jim Deskins and some other friends in Tazewell.  Then I got old enough to drive, and I continued attending on my own.  I did this until 2003 when NASCAR got greedy and became more scripted both on the track and with the driver interaction with the fans.

When I was growing up I can remember Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bobby Allison and other drivers standing for hours signing autographs and visiting with fans.  Then the R. J. Reyonld's Tobacco Company and it's Winston Brand were legislated out of NASCAR along with the deaths Dale Earnhardt, and Bill France, NASCAR Became more scripted.  

I lost interest and attended my last race at Charlotte in October 2003. I haven't been to a race or watch a complete one on TV Since. But I enjoyed re-living the glory days of NASCAR by walking through the Petty Museum.  I spent about two hours at the Petty Museum reliving and remembering those class battle between "The King" Richard Petty and the "Silverfox" David Person. 

Leaving the Museum I had to make a quick stop at the Level Cross Methodist Church. Here I paid my
respects to Lee Petty who is resting with his wife in the church cemetery. 

The Petty Museum was COVID Compliant, and required face covering when inside any of the building.  They were a few other visitors here and we all wore face coverings and kept our distance from each other.  Safety really wasn't a concern and I enjoyed the visit.

I was allowed to shoot video inside the museum to hopefully there will be a YouTube Video coming soon. If you haven't already, Please check out my YouTube Channel (Click Here) and if you like what you see, be sure to subscribe. I try and post a new Video every two week. Hopefully as I get more material I can begin posting every week. 

For now the adventure Continues, More to come from my little Trial Run Adventure.